Exercise bicycle

• US 6,077,201 A
• Filed: 06/12/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chau-Yang Cheng
• Original Assignee: Chau-Yang Cheng
• Inventors: Cheng, Chau-Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US09/095,928
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 482/57, 482/60, 482/63, 482/8, 482/901, 482/902, 600/502, 600/513, 601/30, 601/49, 601/56, 601/36
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0214 by rotating cycling movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1633 Seat A61H2201/0149 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle hand-held, A61H2201/0153; fore-arm support, A61H2003/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/065 Hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/086 Buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 with rotary motor

Abstract

An exercise bicycle is composed of a bicycle frame, a vibration device, a driving device, and a clutch device. The bicycle frame is provided with a pedal device. The vibration device and the pedal device are driven by the driving device such that the pedal device can be temporarily disabled by the clutch device. The vibration device is capable of actuating the bicycle frame to vibrate so as to massage the body of a user of the exercise bicycle while the user is engaged in the pedalling exercise. The exercise bicycle can be used as a body massaging machine by actuating the clutch device to disable the pedal device.

Claims

1. An exercise bicycle comprising:

a frame;

a seat mounted on said frame;

a handlebar fastened with said frame;

a pedal device having a shaft fastened pivotally with said frame, said shaft provided at both ends thereof with a crank arm and a pedal fastened pivotally with said crank arm;

a vibration device fastened with said frame such that said vibration device is capable of actuating said frame to vibrate, and that said vibration device is rested on a ground or floor surface;

a driving device fastened with said vibration device such that said driving device is capable of engaging or disengaging said pedal device; and

a clutch device mounted between said driving device and said pedal device such that said clutch device is capable of actuating said driving device to engage or disengage said pedal device.

2. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 1, wherein said vibration device comprises:

a base;

a vibration seat provided in an underside thereof with a plurality of elastomers and mounted on said base such that said elastomers are located between said vibration seat and said base; and

a motor provided with a rotary shaft and fastened with said base or said vibration seat such that said rotary shaft is provided at one end thereof with an eccentric columnar body.

3. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 2, wherein said motor is mounted on said vibration seat;

and wherein said elastomers are made of a rubber material and are of a tapered construction.

4. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 2, wherein said rotary shaft of said motor is provided at one end thereof with an inertia fly wheel fastened therewith.

5. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 1, wherein said driving device comprises:

a motor;

a driving wheel driven by said motor;

a tubular body fastened pivotally with said frame and provided with a driven wheel fastened therewith such that said driven wheel is linked with said driving wheel by a transmission belt, and that said tubular body is driven by said motor to actuate said shaft of said pedal device via said clutch device.

6. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 3, wherein said driving device comprises:

said motor of said vibration device;

a driving wheel driven by said motor via a transmission mechanism; and

a tubular body fastened pivotally with said frame and provided with a driven wheel fastened therewith such that said driven wheel is linked with said driving wheel by a transmission belt, and that said tubular body is driven by said motor to actuate said shaft of said pedal device via said clutch device.

7. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 1, wherein said clutch device comprises:

a turning member fastened pivotally with said shaft of said pedal device and driven by said driving device, said turning member provided with at least one protrusion;

at least one elastic element fitted over said protrusion of said turning member such that said elastic element is capable of urging said turning member to move along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said shaft of said pedal device; and

a control member fastened pivotally with a fastening tube of a tubular body of said driving device for actuating said turning member to move to engage a dial portion of said shaft of said pedal device such that said turning member can be actuated to move away from said dial portion of said shaft of said pedal device so as to idle said shaft of said pedal device.

8. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 7, wherein said tubular body of said driving device is fastened pivotally with said frame;

wherein said dial portion is located in proximity of said tubular body; and

wherein said turning member of said clutch device is fastened pivotally with said tubular body.

9. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 8, wherein said tubular body is provided at one end thereof with a link disk fastened therewith such that said link disk is corresponding in location to said dial portion, said link disk provided with a plurality of through holes;

and wherein said turning member has a disk which is provided with a plurality of protrusions engageable with said through holes of said link disk of said tubular body.

10. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 9, wherein said protrusions of said turning member are provided respectively with an elastic element fitted thereover such that one end of said elastic element urges said link disk, and that another end of said elastic element urges said disk of said turning member.

11. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 10, wherein said elastic element is a coil spring.

12. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 8, wherein said frame is composed of a front support which is provided with a fastening tube having a guide portion;

wherein said tubular body is fastened pivotally with said fastening tube of said frame; and

wherein said control member of said clutch device has a cylinder which is fastened pivotally with said fastening tube of said frame and is provided with an inclined side capable of making contact with said guide portion of said fastening tube of said frame, said cylinder further provided with a connection rod extending therefrom and having a handle fastened with a free end thereof.

13. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 7, wherein said shaft of said pedal device is provided with an over-running clutch fastened therewith, said over-running clutch consisting of a first element and a second element such that said first element is fastened with said shaft of said pedal device, and that said first element can be actuated by said second element to rotate relative to said second element;

and wherein said dial portion of said shaft of said pedal device is fastened with said second element.

14. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 13, wherein said shaft of said pedal device is provided with a polygonal insertion portion;

and wherein said first element of said over-running clutch is provided with a polygonal retaining hole;

wherein said shaft of said pedal device is linked with said over-running clutch such that said polygonal insertion portion is retained in said polygonal retaining hole; and

wherein said second element is fitted over said first element such that said second element and said first element are provided therebetween with a plurality of tooth gaps, each of said tooth gaps provided therein with a rolling column enabling said second element to actuate said first element.

15. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 14, wherein said polygonal insertion portion and said polygonal retaining hole are of a hexagonal construction;

and wherein said second element is tubular in shape.